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I MUA I TŌ WAIHANGA KIRIATA

Before you film

Screen Auckland is here to guide you through the film permit process so you can begin your production with confidence.

Discover a comprehensive collection of essential information, including resources on requirements and regulations.  
 

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The Auckland CBD with inner suburbs and the Waitemata harbour

NGĀ WHAKAAETANGA
Permits

Find out about getting a film permit in Auckland, working through your production’s requirements, and planning your application. We can support you through this process using our in-depth local knowledge to engage with stakeholders.

About Permits  Apply for a permit

Screen Auckland - Before you film - Permits
Ngā Tikanga Hopu Whakaahua i te Rohe o Tāmaki Makaurau
The Auckland Film Protocol

This practical resource is Auckland Council’s set of guidelines and requirements to enable filming in the region. It’s recommended that productions familiarise themselves with this framework before filming.  

Read the Film Protocol

Screen Auckland - Before you film - The Auckland film protocol
TE TŪHONO Ā-AHUREA KI TĀMAKI
Cultural engagement in Auckland

We encourage production companies planning to film in Auckland to engage with mana whenua – local iwi (tribes) with ancestral ties to the land. Consultation shows respect for cultural heritage and may be compulsory. 

About our Culture

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HE KETE RAUEMI
Resources toolkit

Find out how to plan your film permit application, including the requirements and supporting documents needed for different types of filming, together with other useful production logistics and information.

Prepare your film permit application

Screen Auckland is here to guide you through the permit application process. Please use this handy film application pre-submission checklist to help you prepare for your application. You can find more important information you need for your production's filming requirements here.

If you have any questions reach out to our Film Facilitators.

Auckland filming location fees

The location, size and impact of activities planned for your production will determine the total film permitting fee.

Fees range from $75 - $2000 per day. You can find a list of current fees here.

Please note, film permitting applications may incur costs additional to film permitting fees such as costs for regional park ranger monitoring and vehicle parking. 

Tūpuna Maunga o Tamaki Makaurau Authority has its own fee structure for filming on tūpuna māunga in addition to Screen Auckland film permitting fees.

FilmApp user guide

To streamline the application procedure, Screen Auckland utilises Apply4's FilmApp, a widely adopted application system used by various global locations.

Download this handy user guide to get you started.

Environmental guidelines

We are proud of our beautiful natural landscapes in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and the remarkable filming opportunities they can provide. To ensure the safety and protection of our region, some areas may require special conditions which may impact the timeframe for permitting.

Find out more about our environmental guidelines and how to protect our natural environments here.

Filming with a drone

Using a drone for filming over public open space in Auckland often requires a filming permit, and conditions can be different depending on the location.

Find out more about drone permit requirements here.

 Legal and statutory requirements for productions

Screen Auckland's permit process is underpinned by crucial bylaws covering everything from insurance to health and safety. Utilise these guidelines to inform your pre-production planning effectively.

If you have any questions reach out to our Film Facilitators.

Filming on road corridors

A permit is required to film on motorways and road networks. You can find more information about these spaces here.

Please get in contact with a Screen Auckland Facilitator as early as possible to discuss feasibility of specific locations.

Mana whenua consultation for filming permissions

When planning to film in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, productions are expected to engage with mana whenua (spiritual and cultural authorities of the land) and involve them in the consultation process.

Learn more about engaging with mana whenua here.

Learn more about our rich cultural heritage here.

Filming at Sites and Places of Significance to Mana Whenua

There are locations across Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland which have cultural significance to mana whenua. These include tangible and intangible cultural values in association with historical events and ancestral connection, especially regarding ancestral lands, water, sacred sites, and other taonga (treasures) as described in the Te Tiriti – The Treaty of Waitangi.

Under current legislation in the The Auckland Unitary Plan applying to film on Sites and Places of Significance to Mana Whenua (SPSMW) requires Resource Consent, which has long turnaround times, and considerable expense.  

Screen Auckland is currently working with iwi, industry and council groups, to create a more streamlined, cost effective, inclusive and respectful permissions process, to ensure that filming in these sites becomes accessible.

Download our Sites and Places of Significance to Mana Whenua FAQ guide here.

Talk to our Screen Auckland Film Facilitators to discuss location feasibility. 

If a resource consent is required, our team can direct you to the correct office.

Filming on Tūpuna Maunga

A permit is required for any filming or commercial still photography on the Auckland's volcanic cones (Tūpuna Maunga – ancestral mountains) regardless of its nature or scale.  

Ensure that you allow for plenty of processing time for a maunga location, as applications for these locations require at least 20-25 working days.

Find out more about the requirements for filming on Tūpuna Maunga here.

Health and safety

Your production is required to comply with any specific health and safety requirements or instructions set out in, or issued in conjunction with, your film permit and Auckland Council bylaws. 

No permits will be issued without an approved Job Safety Analysis (JSA) or Health and Safety Plan. Further information and can be found when applying through FilmApp.

You can also find information and resources on health and safety regulations specific to the screen industry at ScreenSafe

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